‘Say Now, Shibboleth’; or modern day ‘Christian-speak

‘Say Now, Shibboleth’; or modern day ‘Christian-speak’ February 2012

Ever notice we say words or phrases that we just accept and not bother to think deeper about? ‘You doing Ok?’ ‘Yeah, I’m good’, ‘I hear ya man’, ‘Whadayuhgonnadoboutit?’ , ‘Who Dat?’. The inspiration for this month’s article came from a ‘Christian-speak’ phrase I heard and reheard so much so, that I had to ‘Selah’-Stop and question it. (Sheeesh, beware when you decide to ask a Brother about what they said! ‘My brother’ was going to call the police because I initiated a dialogue on his phraseology). The phrase went something like this, ‘I’m expecting a might move of God …. I cannot wait to see what God is about to do now in this hour’.
I pondered the expression: ‘I’m expecting; we’re expecting God to show up and do something etc’, you know we’re expecting God. Have to say that one worked on me for a little while. It’s kind of like, when radio stations do manipulative ‘beg-a-thons’, that implore you to ‘pray what the Lord would have you to give’. Say what?! Try that in a court room, talk about leading the witness! Objection! Sustained! Or how about this one, ‘We’re just believing God to come through and exceed our goals’. Say What?! So because you just believe, then God has to do something?!
So I questioned, ‘I’m/we’re expecting God to do something’ and was met with some heat. I quoted: 2Ch 16:9: ‘For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shall have wars.’ I asked my ‘friend’, don’t you think Our Father is waiting for us = His children to act? That’s when I was met with my rebuke he threatened me about calling the police and having me arrested! (So, much for Philadelphia, my Brotherly Love; in His Kingdom)
Thus the inspiration of this month’s article was birthed. Why do we speak in such Spiritual Phraseology that sounds so ‘holy’ and ‘set a part’ yet is so shallow that when asked to show some substance, (read Scripture or Fruit to these words), one is threatened with imprisonment.
However!!!! When I began to look up words that sound nice and ‘religious’ even ‘spiritual’ I remembered the word ‘Bromide’. So I looked that one up. Here’s what I found on, Wicked-pedia: ‘Bromide compounds, especially potassium bromide, were frequently used as sedatives in the 19th and early 20th century. Their use in over-the-counter sedatives and headache remedies (such as Bromo-Seltzer) in the United States extended to 1975, when these bromides were withdrawn as ingredients, due to chronic toxicity. This use gave the word "bromide" its colloquial connotation of a boring cliché, a bit of conventional wisdom overused as a calming phrase, or verbal sedative.’
A verbal sedative? That sounded about right, you know, the phrases we use in ‘Christian Speak’. If we say it and make is sound Scriptural we imply others to please, just don’t dig any deeper! Ya Dig? (Tongue in cheek) After all aren’t we supposed to examine our foundations? (2 Cor. 13:5?)
Man, talk about Scripture being fulfilled, didn’t Peter and John get in big time trouble when the healing-deliverance-manifestation of health and wholeness went forth from them when they had no money to give to the BEGGAR? (Acts 3 1-8) and got ‘SLAPPED’ with a lawsuit in Acts 4? You know what a ‘SLAPP’ lawsuit is, don’t you? Look it up on Wicked-pedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_lawsuit_against_public_participation
Which says a SLAPP stands for: ‘A strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) is a lawsuit that is intended to censor, intimidate, and silence critics by burdening them with the cost of a legal defense until they abandon their criticism or opposition.’ Interesting to say the least… Didn’t someone we know get ‘slapped’ around?
Point of the article is this: we say stuff and give consent to stuff said without going deeper, just staying satisfied with what was said. Speak bromides = Verbal sedatives. (I’m ok, you’re ok, let’s leave it at that ok?) All the while when Our Abba Father=The Creator has SOOOOO much more if we want to go deeper! The Rich stuff is under the surface, it ain’t the Rich stuff on the surface! Remember where the pearl of great price was?
Those that know me, when asked ‘How am I doing?’ I usually reply ‘How am I doing what?’ or when they call they say, ‘What are you up to, and I reply 5’8” why?’… Bromide stuff. (I know they are sincere to the best of their beliefs and love me, except for the ones that want to call the police on me).
So I did some research on ‘Bromide Phrases’ and found a synonym for the word bromide: Shibboleth. Ever hear of it? For those of you who ‘read their bible from cover to cover every year’ (Big Deal!). You’ve read this word, but water=skied right over it! (As I have done, so don’t feel condemned). This might share some insight as to why we are accosted when we speak when we have Understanding of THE Way, the TRUTH and THE Life!!!!
Before I go to His word, I’ll go to Widked-pedia and its definition: shibboleth noun 1. a peculiarity of pronunciation, behavior, mode of dress, etc., that distinguishes a particular class or set of persons. 2. a slogan; catchword. 3. a common saying or belief with little current meaning or truth.
So Bromide is the same as a shibboleth is the same as ‘christian speak’? Let’s see.
‘The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a survivor of Ephraim said, "Let me cross over," the men of Gilead asked him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he replied, "No," then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth; and he said Sibboleth; for he could not frame to pronounce it right: then they laid hold on him, and slew him at the fords of the Jordan. And there fell at that time of Ephraim forty and two thousand. Judges 12 5-6
Shibboleth. which signifies a stream, or flood Ps 69:2,15 Isa 27:12 Shibboleth. also means an ear of corn Job 24:24 and shibboleth signifies a burden. Ex 6:6
Why Slay Clichés? They're uncreative. They're unnecessary. They're meaningless They're distracting. They're a lazy way to communicate. They're wordy. They're ugly. We don't like them.
Words mean things! Know the Words you speak! It’s vital! His Words are LIFE!!!! Don’t count on bromide you have been told! They might get you killed! (2Tim 2:15)
Hopefully, (James 4:15) we’ll talk more about ‘The Cliché Slayer’ e mail me, rick@godleyworks.com

Say Ahh! Rick Godley January 2012

What’s your Scriptural discipline? What do you do, frequently in a consistent manner that gets you into The Word, and thus The Word seeps back into you? For me, one discipline has been to read 5 Psalms and 1 Proverb every morning. The reasoning behind this pattern is simple, if you want to know ‘the heart of God’, read what ‘the man after God’s own heart’ wrote! David wrote most of the Psalms. Then, if you want to know the Wisdom of God, read what ‘the wisest man who ever lived’ wrote! Solomon wrote most of the Proverbs. Repeat each month. This is one way of studying to show yourself a workman approved unto The Author, rightly dividing His Word.
I love the 1st day of any month, because that’s the day I will read Psalms 1 and Proverbs 1, (by the way the other 4 Psalms of the day are 31, 61, 91, 121). May I suggest you stop and read Psalm 1 and Proverb 1 before this day is over? Read and read very slowly, I think you see some neat things. Likewise, I also recommend that you get yourself a free copy of E-Sword from Clint@awakenedchurch.com. It’s neat to see the original language of Hebrew/Paleo Hebrew that our English words came from.
‘A wise man will hear and increase in learning’, Proverbs 1:5. How much wisdom do you have? How much do you want? Doesn’t ‘James’ say, ‘if any of you lacks wisdom , let him ask of God, who gives generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.’ So you obviously gotta open your mouth and ask! Say Ahhhh!
The purpose of Proverbs according to Proverbs is: ‘To know wisdom and instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding, to receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the knowledge and discretion…to understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles.’ Pvb. 1 2-6 Who wouldn’t want any of these? Oh, that’s right, Proverbs goes on to describe 5 different types of fools! 3 of which, we are to stay away from. (see March ’11 Article, ‘I Pithy The Fool)
This past year I have incorporated a morning standing prayer, The Amidah to my discipline, I mean if it’s said of ‘Jesus’, He prayed in a certain place (Luke 11:1) and ‘as was His custom’ Luke 22:39, and if He specifically says ‘Whenever you (insert your name here) stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in the heavelies will also forgive you (insert your name here) your transgressions.’ (Mark 11:25) So I too now have a custom and certain place and stand and pray the Amidah. (By the way Rico Cortes has an excellent teaching on this and I exhort you to listen to it, find it @ www.wisdomintorah.com)
In this Amidah there is one section entitled understanding, ‘You bestow wisdom to man and teach understanding to mortals. Bestow upon us, wisdom, understanding and discernment from you. Blessed are you O Yahweh who bestows wisdom!’ Reminds me of what James is telling us. So I ask everyday! I may be a wise guy (after all I’m from Jersey) but I know I’m not a guy that’s wise!
Psalm 81:10, ‘Open your mouth wide and I will fill it’ Say Ahhh!
Here’s the Hebrew words for:
Wisdom = Chokmah; Understanding = Tobunah; Discernment = Biynah; and Prudence = Ormah
Pretty neat, huh? Add to that, the word found in Psalms quite a bit Selah! Which means to stop, pause and think about what you just read!
I’ll share one of my ‘Ahh’ moments from one of the Ah words.
I always wondered what ‘Jesus’ meant when He said, in Matt. 10:16, ‘to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves’. After all in that very same verse He’s telling us that we are being sent as sheep in the midst of wolves. Until I looked up in the Hebrew, the word Prudence from Proverbs 1:4. Ormah which means shrewdness, craftiness, to be subtle. Hmmmmm. Who was described as more subtle than any beast in the field which THE Lord God had made? (Gen. 3:1) Say Ahh!
So here was Our Master, telling us to be wise as that snake, yet harmless as a dove. Keep in mind our adversary is NOT a Creator, he is an imitator. He watches what Abba Father, THE Creator does to bring and sustain Life and corrupts it ever so subtly, leading us to death and destruction. So if ever you want to know where The Father is, just take a page from the adversary’s’ play book and be prudent and subtle yourself. Quit casting His pearls before swine. Open your mouth wide and say Ahhh, and ask for this kid of Ah, Ormah, prudence. Especially in this hour and the coming hours. Selah!!!
One more closing Scripture for you in this ‘New Year’ from Jeremiah 6:16, ‘Thus says THE Creator: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.’ So to be prudent on this, is it fair that the Corruptor would phrase this verse, ‘Thus says the ADVERSARY: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the new testament paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.’ Say Ahhh!!!!!